What Ars readers want in an iPad Mini: The OpenForum discusses

What features will get users to buy a new mini?

On October 23, Apple will hold a new event, and this time the invitation reads,"We've got a little more to show you." Indeed, the title hints at a smaller version of an existing product line (such as the iPad), and the rumors surrounding a possible smaller version of the iPad are ablaze.

In the Ars OpenForum, readers have been speculating for some time about what an iPad Mini might be like. In the thread "Anyone else really excited for an iPad Mini?" the Ars community talks about what features are at the top of users’ wish lists.

Form factor matters

The form factor of a possible iPad measuring around 7 inches could definitely carve out a unique niche for some users, and Regulusis one of them. "I've been holding off on a new iPad (I have a first gen that I hardly use) in anticipation. I've got an 11" MacBook Air (which I love to death) and I find carrying a tablet nearly the same size to be redundant."

LurkingOne feels that a smaller iPad might round out his set of gadgets: "My new mac setup contains an iPhone, rMBP13 as soon as it comes out (thunderbolt video editing), and nothing in between, so I'll be looking at it, but only if the price is right."

BryansAccount also agrees that form (and size) matter: "I love my 'new iPad' 4G LTE but I would be seriously tempted to pick up an iPad Mini if it was extremely light weight. I still find myself using my iPhone over my iPad in many situations where I have both available due to its superior one hand usability."

For tomahawk, the weight of the device also dictates where and how he will use it: "It's the weight, really. It's great for propping up and using as a recipe book, or for putting on a desk/coffee table for reference/videos, but it's just a touch too heavy for comfortable long (>10 min) stints of reading on the couch/in bed/on the plane, and I want to use it a lot for reading. I guess I should just get a Kindle, really. If [only] the Kindle ran Instapaper & Prismatic." Well, should you get a Kindle? In our recent review of the new Kindle Paperwhite our readers discussed the nuances of e-readers and tablets.

I can haz Retina, LTE, and RAM?

Since so many users appreciate the clarity of the retina screen found in the current line of iPads, it makes sense that OpenForum readers are wondering if the Mini will come with a retina screen as well. For swizcore, it would actually prompt him to get rid of his current iPad: "If the Mini has a retina display, I will likely be selling my iPad3 to get one."

For jozero, a retina screen will open up reading in color: "Yessss... I'm hoping there is a model with a retina display. Would serve as the ultimate graphic novel / comic books reading device."

For TheVelourFrog, the wireless specs of the device count: "Selling my 64/VZW iPad 3 for it. I like new gadgets and don't need 2 tablets. It's just the couch surfer really. I do hope it has LTE though, I really like having that."

Sclitheroe’s tipping point would come in the form of a RAM upgrade: He says, "512 MB of RAM would be a showstopper for me." Later, Sclitheroe adds, "My new personal guideline for iOS device purchases is that they have to have the maximum amount of RAM offered for the iOS version they ship with. So I'd purchase an iPad 3, or an iPhone 5 right now, but not an iPad 2, iPhone 4S, or an iPod Touch, all of which are shipping with iOS 6, but are RAM spec'ed for iOS 5."

But TheVelourFogwarns against focusing on RAM specs: "If [the lack of RAM] actually prohibited me from doing something, maybe, but I've learned that looking at the specs alone can lead to misinformed purchases. In fact, doesn't the iPad 1 have only 256MB? Still browses just fine IME."

Biochemistrydoesn’t have high hopes for the specs on a possible Mini, though: "It's going to be a low-end model to bring in new customers. Don't expect a retina display or enough RAM or enough storage to have it replace the regular iPad. Apple doesn't want to cannibalize regular iPad sales with this new model, it's looking to go after a new market base. We're all going to be hugely disappointed by it."

D.rock, though, is more optimistic: "I’m optimistic about it. My iPad 1 is getting long in the tooth at this point and I was surprised how much I use and enjoy the Nexus 7. The significant weight reduction makes a huge difference in portability and usability. I think a slightly larger tablet (than the Nexus 7) with iOS's superior apps could be right what I'm looking for. I guess we'll know next week."

Tune in next week to find out

What features do you think will be included in Apple’s new device? Are there specs that will help you make your decision to buy or upgrade? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or in the OpenForum. Register for an account to participate in the discussion. Also, don’t forget to visit Ars Technica on October 23 as we liveblog the Apple event and provide you shot-by-shot coverage, including lots of photos.

Promoted Comments

I'm dreaming of a wholesale personal tech overhaul in 2013: my iMac is aging and severely limited in terms of how much RAM I can put in it, which crimps my development efforts (VMs aplenty); my iPhone 4 is eligible for an upgrade in January; I do have the new iPad, but WOW is that thing heavy! I'd like to get the iPhone 5, the iPad mini and the updated '13 Mac Pro - no laptop, as I hate lugging stuff around. I've been issued a 15" retina Macbook Pro at work, and I can't wait until we move into our permanent offices ("soon," they say) so I can swap it for an iMac.

All of which is to say that the two most important attributes the iPad mini could have, for me, are lightness and balance - something I can easily hold in one hand while on the subway. I'm comfortable with iPad 2-grade specs and a non-Retina display. I was initially hoping for a device sized so that it could slip into a jacket pocket, but I realized that I'd only take my tablet with when going to work, anyway. I'd even get rid of my full-size iPad; I'll have access to plenty at work.

Apple is famously into disruption, but this reputation is increasingly not deserved. The iPod Touch 5 is a case in point. It is a beautiful mobile computer crippled by Apple's fear of disrupting the iPhone. It has no GPS or LTE, even as options. That means no turn-by-turn voice navigation, no geo-fenced reminders, no continuous Siri when roaming, and no iTunes Match capability, no VoIP, no FaceTime, when away from Wi-Fi. Crippled by fear of the carriers, and how they might react to a phone that does not require an expensive phone contract: just a cheap monthly data connection.

The iPad Mini, which I call the iPad 8, is the company's opportunity to regain a little of its disruptive lustre by marketing a truly miniature product that, through GPS and LTE options, can compete fully with the iPhone, including being used as an inexpensive data-only phone. The iPad 8 needs to offer everything the iPad does, perhaps even including a top-end model featuring a Retina screen.

Apple needs to start competing a bit more effectively with Apple, if it is to continue competing with others. It all goes into the same pocket when Apple goes head-to-head with itself, even if for a short time the profit ratios decline.

So, start with the iPad 8, and then later get around to fixing the iPod Touch as a recognised data-only phone alternative.

I already use my iPad as my mobile phone, because I despise the extortionate mobile phone contracts (three years long in Canada) and won't get an iPhone until they -- carrier costs -- come down in price and become less restrictive. I get a half GB data for $20 monthly and have never come near the limit. The money saved maintains my sailboat. I would like to be able to do the same thing with an iPad 8, and eventually an iPod Touch.

That's the job to be done, now up to Apple to make it, and price it, perhaps starting stripped to minimum at $299 US.

64 Reader Comments

I love my iphone and typing this on my macbook, however I am using a nook color for a tablet as I love the form factor and at that time was the best android tablet on the market.

I have been considering a google nexus 7 however I want to hold it in my hands before I purchase it. that isn't easy to do with a nexus.

while I hate the idea of a limited user ecosystem(one OS to rule all leads to problems )an ipad mini is what I have been looking for. Of course if apple annouces an ipad mini google will have to undercut pricing and I might be able to get a decent nexus 7 cheap.

I'm expecting iPad2-level hardware, and pricing starting at $299 for 16GB. I don't see them stooping to an 8GB model, nor hitting the $249 price point. To my memory, Apple has never been price-competitive in established markets to which they're a late entrant (which is entirely different than being price-competitive in a market they virtually created, like the 10" tablet).

I think Apple should start offering price points based on more than just storage. For a start, 16GB is pretty useless these days; I have a 32GB iPad and am already swapping things in and out constantly - same with the iPhone frankly. Instead, offer 32 and 64GB versions of the Mini (maybe a 128) and also offer 512/1024MB of RAM along with non-retina and retina with LTE optional on all.

That way, you can get a smaller iPad retina with 64GB for the same price as an entry level new iPad with 16GB, which needs to be scrapped in favor of 32GB, with the top end model having 128GB.

With Surface now released, and not actually being amazingly competitive price-wise (IMO), Apple has an opportunity to position themselves very aggressively, without compromising quality. Leave the sub-$200 market to the Kindle Fire (an excellent choice for that price-point).

I love my iphone and typing this on my macbook, however I am using a nook color for a tablet as I love the form factor and at that time was the best android tablet on the market.

I have been considering a google nexus 7 however I want to hold it in my hands before I purchase it. that isn't easy to do with a nexus.

while I hate the idea of a limited user ecosystem(one OS to rule all leads to problems )an ipad mini is what I have been looking for. Of course if apple annouces an ipad mini google will have to undercut pricing and I might be able to get a decent nexus 7 cheap.

The Nexus 7 is really solid and I like it a lot but I'm more of an Android user. If you are already invested in the Apple ecosystem you might as well wait to check out the iPad mini. The form factor will be the same and you will no doubt find better integration if you already use an iPhone and MacBook. Either way you may as well just wait and see since you will most likely have those two good options in a month. We have a Nook Color running vanilla Android and it's fine but the Nexus 7 blows it away as far as hardware and usability.

Awhile back there was a patent application for an Apple stylus. I'm hoping for a slight reversal on the stylus stance, given the rumors have Apple targeting the textbook-toting audience. It shouldn't come standard, but a system integrated pen accessory would awesome. Long, long shot, but awesome.

I'm dreaming of a wholesale personal tech overhaul in 2013: my iMac is aging and severely limited in terms of how much RAM I can put in it, which crimps my development efforts (VMs aplenty); my iPhone 4 is eligible for an upgrade in January; I do have the new iPad, but WOW is that thing heavy! I'd like to get the iPhone 5, the iPad mini and the updated '13 Mac Pro - no laptop, as I hate lugging stuff around. I've been issued a 15" retina Macbook Pro at work, and I can't wait until we move into our permanent offices ("soon," they say) so I can swap it for an iMac.

All of which is to say that the two most important attributes the iPad mini could have, for me, are lightness and balance - something I can easily hold in one hand while on the subway. I'm comfortable with iPad 2-grade specs and a non-Retina display. I was initially hoping for a device sized so that it could slip into a jacket pocket, but I realized that I'd only take my tablet with when going to work, anyway. I'd even get rid of my full-size iPad; I'll have access to plenty at work.

I've managed to stay out of iTunes up to now (and keep hugely enjoying iUsers' puzzled glances when I just connect my phone to my PC or theirs and drag'n drop stuff), so the iPad Mini would have to offer something... well, huge... for me to get sucked in.

I'm not banking on it though, because I'm looking for the exact opposite: a huge tablet, even if hugeness is its only quality. I find I'm using my Xoom 1 at my desk 90% of the time, in bed 9.5%, and somewhere else 0.5% (mainly plane/train trips and then on a table). I'll gladly trade portability for a bigger screen, resolution doesn't even really matter. The $650 Toshiba Excite 13 was too pricey, but the $350 Archos/Arnova FamilyTab looks like just what I want: bigger videos and bigger buttons. The low-dpi screen (1280x800, they keep saying it's the same as the MacBook Air), is actually a good thing for me, since it means the same amount of stuff will be displayed bigger, as opposed to displaying more stuff at the same size on higher dpi screens.

Anyhoooo, my 7" Nook Color w/CM7 gets used about once a month (it's my throw-away tablet to entertain the nephews and nieces), my Xoom 1 gets used hours every day... and I'm fairly sure a 13"tablet would be a better fit, and get grabbed by my elderly parents, even sister, fairly quickly. Both also have tablets, both also always use them at home, sitting down. Past 40 and 80, you just need stuff to be displayed bigger.

The excite of the iPad mini validated my belief that those who dismissed 7inch android tablets werete dismissing android and not the 7inch form factor. I know that 7.85 inch screen makes the tablet much larger but people use to claim 10 inches was best and only size for a tablet.

I quite enjoy my iPad 2 and have come to use it more often, as a habit, than my laptop. (I fall back on the laptop, of course, when a client needs a stint of website maintenance.) A combination of reports—specs and experience—would be needed to convince me to buy a new mini. I suppose it might be ideal for our nightly bedside reading and as a lightweight vacation companion.

I think all this talk about "apple doesn't want to cannibalize it's existing products" is miscalculated. Apple has 5 hugely different laptops, yet only one tablet. There is an enormous demand for variable form factors in tablets and if there really is an iPad mini, that is Apple's acknowledgment that the great Steve was absolutely wrong is saying that people don't need anything smaller in a tablet. Furthermore, even if a smaller iPad does "cannibalize" the larger iPad market, the net sales will no doubt go up, not down. The mini will appeal to people who might be on the fence about the larger iPad, but also people who were not satisfied with the larger size of the larger iPad. It's a win-win situation and there is little, if any, risk of the economic failure of making a mini-ipad. Apple is also not going to create a small iPad so dumbed down that it is useless. If they can pack that much power in the iPhone 5, they can make the iPad mini just as powerful as the iPad 3.

I do like the form factor of a 7-8" tablet... the 10" New iPad gets heavy Fast! Make the Mini iPad light like the latest iPod 5th Gen... Use Sharps Igzo technology for the screen and put in (cough cough...) a SDHC mini slot for storage... LTE on the next upgrade... Hmmm... Then I'll pull the trigger.

For it to be in any way competitive with the Kindle series or Nexus 7 in both hardware and price.

Which is unlikely considering that even the iPod touch is priced higher than both, if the iPad mini was priced lower, even with reduced flash storage to justify it, it will still be in an awkward position relative to other products, and would go against the Apple strategy of high profit margins for each piece of hardware.

Considering Apple, you can't expect any new or surprising technology or changes that would just devalue other Apple products, like an OLED screen, or anything not available on the regular iPad.

I feel sorry for writers who have figure out ways to generate buzz for such an uninteresting and redundant "me too" product, there is just nothing creative or new to bring to the table. It's a smaller version of an existing product meant to mimic competitors.

Apple is famously into disruption, but this reputation is increasingly not deserved. The iPod Touch 5 is a case in point. It is a beautiful mobile computer crippled by Apple's fear of disrupting the iPhone. It has no GPS or LTE, even as options. That means no turn-by-turn voice navigation, no geo-fenced reminders, no continuous Siri when roaming, and no iTunes Match capability, no VoIP, no FaceTime, when away from Wi-Fi. Crippled by fear of the carriers, and how they might react to a phone that does not require an expensive phone contract: just a cheap monthly data connection.

The iPad Mini, which I call the iPad 8, is the company's opportunity to regain a little of its disruptive lustre by marketing a truly miniature product that, through GPS and LTE options, can compete fully with the iPhone, including being used as an inexpensive data-only phone. The iPad 8 needs to offer everything the iPad does, perhaps even including a top-end model featuring a Retina screen.

Apple needs to start competing a bit more effectively with Apple, if it is to continue competing with others. It all goes into the same pocket when Apple goes head-to-head with itself, even if for a short time the profit ratios decline.

So, start with the iPad 8, and then later get around to fixing the iPod Touch as a recognised data-only phone alternative.

I already use my iPad as my mobile phone, because I despise the extortionate mobile phone contracts (three years long in Canada) and won't get an iPhone until they -- carrier costs -- come down in price and become less restrictive. I get a half GB data for $20 monthly and have never come near the limit. The money saved maintains my sailboat. I would like to be able to do the same thing with an iPad 8, and eventually an iPod Touch.

That's the job to be done, now up to Apple to make it, and price it, perhaps starting stripped to minimum at $299 US.

Apple is famously into disruption, but this reputation is increasingly not deserved. The iPod Touch 5 is a case in point. It is a beautiful mobile computer crippled by Apple's fear of disrupting the iPhone. It has no GPS or LTE, even as options. That means no turn-by-turn voice navigation, no geo-fenced reminders, no continuous Siri when roaming, and no iTunes Match capability, no VoIP, no FaceTime, when away from Wi-Fi.

LTE is power hungry. The iPod would need a much bigger battery, which would make it the same size/weight and price as an iPhone. In that case, why not just buy an iPhone?

GPS is also power hungry. It has to perform extremely complex error correction math on an endless stream of satellite data. The API for reading the GPS data has a very long list of modes to control how accurate the location needs to be, and the most accurate level has a warning that the phone should be plugged into a USB power source if that accuracy is required for any length of time).

Even on an iPhone, with it's massive battery, when geofencing is being used the GPS chip is always powered down. Notice the location arrow is solid while the maps app is open, but just an outline when geofencing is active? The outline icon means the GPS chip is powered down, and it is only using cell phone triangulation instead. Geofencing on the iPod Touch would work fine without GPS, but it will not work without GSM or LTE.

If an iPod Touch had a GPS chip and you used it for turn by turn navigation, there's a good chance it would go flat before you reach the destination.

Also, if you really need it, there are third party solutions to add both LTE and GPS to your iPod Touch/iPad.

pontavignon wrote:

I already use my iPad as my mobile phone, because I despise the extortionate mobile phone contracts (three years long in Canada) and won't get an iPhone until they -- carrier costs -- come down in price and become less restrictive. I get a half GB data for $20 monthly and have never come near the limit. The money saved maintains my sailboat. I would like to be able to do the same thing with an iPad 8, and eventually an iPod Touch.

Why don't you buy an unlocked iPhone and link it up with a cheap/prepaid data plan? Maybe they're not available in Canada? You can't blame Apple for that.

It might sound kind of crazy, but I've thought since ICS was introduced that the clean, modern style of Android would be a far better match for the clean, modern look of Apple's hardware than iOS, with its skeuomorphism and outdated bubbly, glassy look. Replace the blue hue of holo with white and presto, perfect fit.

Heresy? Maybe, but I'd buy it. Imagine the look on Jobs's face if he were around to witness that...

It might sound kind of crazy, but I've thought since ICS was introduced that the clean, modern style of Android would be a far better match for the clean, modern look of Apple's hardware than iOS, with its skeuomorphism and outdated bubbly, glassy look. Replace the blue hue of holo with white and presto, perfect fit.

So you like android because it looks prettier? Seriously?

I don't care what my operating system or hardware looks like. I only care what it is capable of doing and how big/heavy the hardware is. If they can pull it off while also looking good, then that's nice too - but it's not part of my purchasing decision.

The excite of the iPad mini validated my belief that those who dismissed 7inch android tablets werete dismissing android and not the 7inch form factor. I know that 7.85 inch screen makes the tablet much larger but people use to claim 10 inches was best and only size for a tablet.

Mindless followers will follow their brand regardless of where it takes them. It doesn't matter how absurd or limiting that is. However, that's not the heart of the matter here. There are just elements of Apple hype and hysteria that seem to be fueled mostly by the tech press. They keep on reprinting these stories in hopes that people will care.

Most normal people will just give up waiting and try a competing brand.

That is likely the real reason that Apple would come around on this, assuming they are.

I think all this talk about "apple doesn't want to cannibalize it's existing products" is miscalculated. Apple has 5 hugely different laptops, yet only one tablet. There is an enormous demand for variable form factors in tablets and if there really is an iPad mini, that is Apple's acknowledgment that the great Steve was absolutely wrong is saying that people don't need anything smaller in a tablet. Furthermore, even if a smaller iPad does "cannibalize" the larger iPad market, the net sales will no doubt go up, not down. The mini will appeal to people who might be on the fence about the larger iPad, but also people who were not satisfied with the larger size of the larger iPad. It's a win-win situation and there is little, if any, risk of the economic failure of making a mini-ipad. Apple is also not going to create a small iPad so dumbed down that it is useless. If they can pack that much power in the iPhone 5, they can make the iPad mini just as powerful as the iPad 3.

The bottom line for Apple is that it is better that you buy their product rather than someone else's. If anyone is going to be cannibalizing Apple's business, then it should be Apple. Otherwise, someone else will be taking that money. The value of the platform at large will also decrease as percieved market share decreases.

Try serious Web browsing under 10" for a month. You won't like it. Too many Web sites will be confusing...not appealing. You'll get lost.

It's going to display the exact same content, scaled down slightly. Shouldn't be an issue unless you have poor vision.

I still like my first-gen iPad, but iOS 5 has not done it any favors in terms of speed or stability. 256MB of RAM is just not enough. It's also heavier than I'd like, and the screen is pretty poor in bright light. Still, it sees a few hours of use every single day between myself, my wife, and my 2-year-old daughter.

If the iPad mini is light, has a better screen (not necessarily retina), and has at least iPad 2 levels of performance, I'll be ordering mine on day one.

I'm expecting iPad2-level hardware, and pricing starting at $299 for 16GB. I don't see them stooping to an 8GB model, nor hitting the $249 price point. To my memory, Apple has never been price-competitive in established markets to which they're a late entrant (which is entirely different than being price-competitive in a market they virtually created, like the 10" tablet).

I don't think Apple are price-competitive in 10" tablets either. It's just that the other players have deluded themselves into pricing their wares at the same level as Apple, with the roaring success we know. I paid $300 for my Xoom 1 (hat's nroadly equivalent to an iPad 2) with 48GB and a multimedia dock, + protection sleeve, and wouldn't have paid a penny more.

I think what I would most want in an ipad mini is to have it run on android. I've already got one iOS device, and certain of the limitations apple has baked into it irritate me.

That said, if I had no choice...

The ability to use maps (that actually resemble the real world) when offline, a reasonable price point, and the ability to write apps for personal use without having to pay apple to do so. (Honestly, if there's one thing that pissed me off about iOS it's the $100/year they would want me to shell out if I decided I wanted to make a custom die-roller or something for my own use... rapacious money-grubbers...)

Claiming the ipad1 "browses just fine" is hilarious.It can not even keep 1 complete web page in memory. When you scroll up/down, it displays checkerboard, and must reload the page.Also, it cannot keep multiple "tabs" in memory. It may need to reload pages if you jump between tabs while browsing. For instance, if this reply was written on an ipad1, and I just switch over to another tab to quickly check something, coming back to this tab would have erased all my typing, as the page would have been reloaded. The ipad1 can do many things, but browsing fine it cannot.

I personally will look very carefully into all the hardware specs before even considering buying. Especially the RAM specs, since Apple usually avoids publishing these.

Cesar Torres / Cesar is the Social Editor at Ars Technica. His areas of expertise are in online communities, human-computer interaction, usability, and e-reader technology. Cesar lives in New York City.